System and Method for Volume Rendering Three-Dimensional Ultrasound Perfusion Images

Abstract

A three-dimensional visualization technique for easily identifying common morphological landmarks in volume rendered ultrasound perfusion images. The technique includes processing acoustic data received by an ultrasound imaging system ( 100 ) according to at least two different signal processing methods. One of these methods is perfusion-specific, while another of these methods is tissue-specific. Each of these methods provides separately processed volume images. A volume rendering step ( 14, 16 ) assigns different volume rendering characteristics to each of the volume images according to whether the volume images are based on perfusion- or tissue-specific acoustic data. The at least two volume images can also be differentiated in the volume rendering step by assigning each volume image a specific color. The volume images are finally combined ( 18 ) and displayed ( 20 ).

1 . A method for improved visualization of common morphological landmarks in volume rendered images, said method comprising the steps of:
 processing received acoustic data according to at least two different signal processing methods, wherein each of the at least two different signal processing methods provides separately processed volume images;   volume rendering the volume images comprising the step of assigning different volume rendering characteristics to each of the volume images according to the differently processed acoustic data; and   combining the volume rendered images to form a combined image, wherein there is improved visualization of common morphological landmarks in the volume rendered images.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein one method of the at least two different signal processing methods is perfusion-specific and another method of the at least two different signal processing methods is tissue-specific. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the two different signal processing methods are performed on a single original set of acoustic data. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the volume rendering step further comprises the step of varying intensities of a monochrome image. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the volume rendering step further comprises the step of differentiating the volume images by assigning each volume image a specific color. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method is performed by an ultrasound imaging system ( 200 ). 
   
   
       7 . A system ( 200 ) for identifying common morphological landmarks in volume rendered images, said system comprising:
 means for processing received acoustic data according to at least two different signal processing methods, wherein each of the at least two different signal processing methods provides separately processed volume images;   means for volume rendering the volume images comprising means for assigning different volume rendering characteristics to each of the volume images of the combined image according to the differently processed acoustic data; and   means for combining the separately processed volume images to form a combined image for identifying common morphological landmarks in the volume rendered images.   
   
   
       8 . The system ( 200 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein one method of the at least two different signal processing methods is perfusion-specific and another method of the at least two different signal processing methods is tissue-specific. 
   
   
       9 . The system ( 200 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein one method of the at least two different signal processing methods is perfusion-specific and another method of the at least two different signal processing methods is tissue-specific. 
   
   
       10 . The system ( 200 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein the means for volume rendering further comprises means for varying intensities of a monochrome image. 
   
   
       11 . The system ( 200 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein the means for volume rendering further comprises means for differentiating the volume images by assigning each volume image a specific color. 
   
   
       12 . A computer readable medium storing a set of programmable instructions for being executed by at least one processor ( 206 ) for performing a method for identifying common morphological landmarks in volume rendered images comprising the steps of:
 processing received acoustic data according to at least two different signal processing methods, wherein each of the at least two different signal processing methods provides separately processed volume images; and   volume rendering the volume images comprising the step of assigning different volume rendering characteristics to each of the volume images according to the differently processed acoustic data; and   combining the volume rendered images to form a combined image, wherein there is improved visualization of common morphological landmarks in the volume rendered images.   
   
   
       13 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 12 , wherein one method of the at least two different signal processing methods is perfusion-specific and another method of the at least two different signal processing methods is tissue-specific. 
   
   
       14 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 12 , wherein the volume rendering step further comprises the step of varying intensities of a monochrome image. 
   
   
       15 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 12 , wherein the volume rendering step further comprises the step of differentiating the volume images by assigning each volume image a specific color. 
   
   
       16 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor ( 206 ) is within an ultrasound imaging system ( 200 ).